The Impact of Sri Lankan Government Rules on Productivity of Public Employees
Policies regulating certain industries are essential to keep status quo and harmonious
relationship between the parties involved. Effective rules are kept and improved, while the
lame laws are reviewed or ceased. However, no matter how competent a certain rule is, there are
still some people that against it for some reasons. Some may see it as anti-mass, while some are
fighting against it because of personal agendas. The urge to oppose rules and regulations may
be politically motivated, or may be personally motivated.
In a country infested by three decades of civil war by rebel groups, economic and
political growth was dwarfed by the many years of seemingly unending fighting. More than
2000,000 civilians are displaced by war, and most of them are now living in government-
controlled camps. Now, the government is now focused in reconstruction and development of the
areas formerly infested by the war. Sri Lanka depends heavily on foreign assistance rebuilding
its nation.
To lift up the productivity of public employees that will help the government, rules are
implemented and proposed. Launching effective programs are essential in helping the country
redeem itself by being united.
Sri Lanka Ministry of National Language and Social Integration has taken measures to
teach three languages, Tamil, Sinhala and English in all public sector employees. The National
Language and Social Integration plans to set up teaching centers in every province with the help
of local councils to improve the communication between ethnic groups and the government.
It is a part of reconciliation and hearing the needs of these ethnic groups.
All public employees that will undergone such language training will receive salary
increments and a better chance of being promoted in the near future. Language skills are
important in dealing with the ethnic groups because miscommunication are often encountered.
Thus, language barrier is one of the main problems among the local people. Learning three
languages is not only an socio-economic need but also serves as a bridge between the gap of the
ethnic groups and local people.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka financial system is continuously but remains to be
vulnerable to government policies. Regulations are can be compared to international standards,
but supervision remains insufficient. Banking sector is largely the industry in financial system of
the country, but high credit costs discourage investors. However, stockbrokerages and insurance
policies can be fully controlled by a foreign investor. The banking sector which has 23 commercial
banks, 2 of whom are state-owned while the other 12 are foreign owned. The government
influences the allocation of credit and uses domestic resources to provide the borrowing of money
for the state.
Due to its considerably bad debt and handling of money, the Sri Lankan government
finds alternative ways in having policies that will heighten up the productivity of the employees a
way or another. Giving 100 percent control of foreign investors on their business will attract
businessmen and a number of hiring jobs will be available.
Moreover, Sri Lanka’s labor regulations are relatively flexible and can work under
provisions. However, dismissing an employee is difficult because of the labor code.
On one hand, the move expanding the state by creating more jobs provided by the
government costs too much keeping the government indebted. State workers grown from 13.2
percent to 15.2 percent in total employment over the last five years consumed a large part of
the taxes collected from the people. Private sector employment had befallen, while the
categorical self-employed are also declined.
Badly enough, Sri Lanka has an unfair income tax system where people working in
private sectors are charged with income taxes. In this case, diasporas will mount in number and
working overseas will be an alternative. Brain drain will threaten the nation because intellectuals
would rather work abroad where there are tax exemptions on government employees.
Remittances may help boost the economy, but the professionals that should be servicing their
own nation would be expatriates serving foreign countries under their more considerable laws.
The work of the government creating policies that would benefit the state and its people
is not that easy. Public officials making regulations should be dedicated in seeing through the
pros and cons of a certain law. Above all, it should be for the better of the mass people.
If the regulations are not reviewed thoroughly, productivity on part of the employees will
be affected either state employees or in private sectors. If exemption on taxes will not be
relinquished or even amended, there would be a big possibility of great migration among Sri
Lankans.
The government should consider a lot of aspects and industries first before taking its
action. Or it will end up being regretted.
References:
http://www.colombopage.com
http://in.reuters.com
http://www.heritage.org
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com
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